Safety locking device for gas and electric appliances



L AUSTER June 12, 1956 SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC APPLIANCES Filed Aug. '7, 1955 INVENTOR. .5001; 14067271? SAFETY LOCKHNG DEVICE FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC APPLIANCES This invention relates to new and useful improvements in locking devices for operating knobs or levers on oil,

gas and electric stoves and other appliances.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved operating knob locking device which will prevent the turning on of stove burners or appliances through accident and inadvertence or by small children.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the knob locking device with a screw member which can be easily and conveniently operated merely by turning in one direction to free the knob for operation and by turning in the opposite direction for locking the knob or lever.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the screw member with means to lock it either in its knob freeing or knob locking positions.

As a further object, the present invention proposes arranging the locking means for the screw member so that it will automatically become operative to lock the screw member once the screw member has been turned to its knob locking position.

The present invention further proposes constructing the knob locking device with a spring biased panel engaging member which will normally remain in an inoperative position but which can freely be put in a knob locking position and will remain in such position until removed by certain definite motions.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a gas range equipped with knob locking devices of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the range and one of the knobs and locking devices shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the knob locking member in inoperative position and the knob free to turn.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating another modification of the present invention.

The knob locking device of the present invention, in accordance with the first form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is shown by way of example as used on a gas stove having a front panel 16 with operating knobs 17 rotatably mounted on the stove and disposed in front of the panel 16.

Knobs 17 each have a base portion 18 and a handle portion 19 and may be made of plastic, porcelain, metal 2,749,903 Patented June 12, 1956 or other material. Each knob 17 is fixed to a stem 20 of a gas valve 21 (see Fig. 3) to operate the valve and turn the gas on and oif by turning the knob 17. The off position of each knob 17 is indicated by indicia 22 on each knob reading off and the on position of each knob is indicated by a directional arrow 23 on each knob followed by the word on (see Fig. 2).

Panel 16 has a locking device panel opening 24 (see Fig. 3) which is a threaded hole and the base portion 18 of each knob 17 has a similar threaded knob opening 25 disposed to align with the panel opening 24 when the knob is in off position.

A panel engaging member 26 has a finger grip head portion 27 and a threaded portion 28 for extension through the knob opening 25 to engage the panel 16 when the two openings 24 and 25 are aligned. The head portion 27 of each screw member 26 is disposed adjacent the handle portion 19 of the knob 17 to which it is attached.

When a knob 17 is in its off position, the threaded panel and knob openings 24 and 25 will be aligned and the screw member 26 can be turned in the knob opening 25 until its threaded end penetrates the aligned panel opening 24 and operatively engages the threads in that opening and hence the panel. This locks the knob against turning. To release the knob, the screw member is turned in the opposite direction until its threaded end moves out of the panel opening 24.

The modification of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, is characterized by the provision of a panel 30 having an operating knob 31 rotatably mounted on it. Panel 30 has a threaded locking device panel opening 32 and knob 31 has a base portion 34 and a handle portion 33. The base portion 34 contains an opening 35 disposed axially to align with the panel opening 32 when the knob 31 is in off position.

An internally threaded sleeve 36 extends through the knob opening 35 and is secured to the knob by end flanges 37 and 38.

A screw member 39 having a head portion 40 and a threaded end portion 41 fits in the sleeve 36 for extension through the sleeve to engage the threaded panel opening 32 when the knob 31 is in off position.

Screw member 39 has a transversely disposed locking recess 42 in its threaded end portion 41 adjacent its head portion 41 Sleeve 36 has a spring arm extension 43 with a recess seating end portion 44 disposed to seat in the recess 42 when the threaded end portion 41 of the screw member 39 has penetrated the panel opening 32 and engaged the threads therein. The recess 42 and spring arm extension 43 are disposed so that the recess seating end portion 44 of the spring arm extension 43 will automatically seat in the recess 42 when the screw member 41 has secured engagedly the panel 30 by penetrating the panel opening 32. To release the screw member, the spring arm extension 43 is manually raised and so held while the screw member 41 is turned to move the recess 42 away from the recess seating end portion 44 of the spring arm extension.

The modification of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 8 is characterized by the provision of a knob 45 pivotally mounted on a panel 46, the panel 46 having a panel opening 47 with a keyway 48. Knob 45 has a handle portion 49 and a base portion 50, the base portion 56 having an opening 51 disposed axially to align with the panel opening 47 when the knob 45 is in off position. A panel engaging member 52 having a finger grip head portion 53 and a shank portion 54 slidably fits through the knob opening 51.

A key element 55 is provided on the shank portion 54 of the panel engaging member 52 adjacent the free end thereof. Keyway 48 in the panel 46 is adapted freely and slidably to pass the key element 55.

Mounted on the shank portion 54 of the panel engaging member 52 between the finger grip head portion 53 and the base portion 50 of the knob 45 is a coil spring 56 to bias the panel engaging member 52 away from the panel 46.

The panel engaging member 52 is turned to align the key element 55 with keyway 48 and then pressed in against spring 56 to dispose the key element 55 beyond the panel opening 47. The member 52 is then turned and the key element 55 bears against the panel to lock the member 52 to the panel and to lock the knob 45 against turning.

To release the member 52 and the knob 45, the member 52 is again pressed in and the key element 55 moved back to keyway 48 whereupon spring 56 will retract it and hold it in retracted position so the knob 45 will be free to turn.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A stove operating knob locking device comprising a knob with a base portion and a handle portion, a stove panel having a threaded opening, said base portion of the knob having an opening disposed axially to align with the panel opening when the knob is in off position, an internally threaded sleeve extending through the knob opening and secured to the knob, a screw member for extension through the sleeve to engage the threaded panel opening when the knob is in ofl position, said screw memher having a finger grip head portion disposed adjacent the handle portion of the knob and a threaded end portion, a locking recess in the threaded end portion of the screw member, a spring arm extension from said sleeve, and a recess seating end portion on said spring arm extension disposed to seat in said recess when the screw member threaded end portion has penetrated the panel opening and engaged the threads therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,001 Dornig June 7, 1904 867,571 Claus Oct. 8, 1907 1,459,686 Gorman June 19, 1923 1,652,916 Trottier Dec. 13, 1927 1,659,843 Trottier Feb. 21, 1928 1,664,820 Hughes Apr. 3, 1928 1,861,937 Philips June 7, 1932 2,002,384 Ammerman et al May 21, 1935 

